Wednesday, August 20, 2008

First Day of Preschool for Landon and Addi Fall 2008

This week has been great so far! We had a nice weekend and were excited about Landon and Addi's first days of school! Sunday was a nice day that was not too busy! I took some pictures of Landon and Addi on Sunday morning because they were very proud of their outfits. After church I showed them their new backpacks and lunchboxes and that made them very excited about their first day of school. They did not want to put them down and kept practicing opening and closing them. Before we knew it, it was Tuesday, the big day of their first day of pre-school. They were soooo excited!! I was excited and nervous for them, not knowing how they would react when we got there.

When we walked in the school, all the kids and parents were rushing around and Addi sort of clammed up. Landon got a little nervous but not really bad. Then when we got to Addi's class, she was saying "no class, no class", but once I told her I would walk in with her, she was ok. Once inside her room, she saw all the toys and everything was better. Her teacher, whom I had met before when I visited the school, was very nice and so welcoming and personable to Addi. Before I left I kneeled down and told Addi good-bye. She gave me a huge hug, as if to say, "I'll be ok mom", and then she ran off to play. It was precious!

Then, we went to find Landon's room. He walked right in and the teacher started talking to him right away. His teacher was told by a lady who goes to our church how much Landon loves trucks, so she asked him about trucks right away. Landon was hooked! She told him where to hang his book bag each day and then showed him where the trucks were. I told Landon good bye and he said "ok, bye!" and he was great!

Then, it was time for mom to cry in the van on the way out. I know some of you understand. For me, this is the first time I have ever left my kids in the care of anyone besides family. And, when I did that it was usually because I had to go to an appt., etc. I am somewhat of a control person, and always having had my kids with me, makes me feel like I have control over keeping them safe, what they learn, who they are around, etc. Thankfully, I had planned to meet Samantha after dropping them off. It was good to go and do something with someone while waiting to pick up the kids. For me as a mom, this is my two babies very first steps out into the world without mom there all the time. And, for their first step out into the world; THEY DID GREAT!!!

I came back to pick them up at 2:00, and when I walked into Landon's room, he had his backpack on and was sitting in a chair reading a book. How studious!!! Addi was just waking up from her rest time, in which she did sleep. I am sure she will sleep each day. She has always been a sleeping girl! She was still on her nap mat with her blanket when I walked in, so she was a little out of it. Both their teachers said they did so well, and never got upset or in trouble. Yeah! I am so proud! It was so fun to hear the kids tell me about their days, they were so excited and had such good times. Landon made a jeep out of food and then got to eat it (you know he loved that!) and Addi played with stickers and made a collage.

After school, I took them for a first day of school EVER ice cream cone! All in all it was a great day!! I am thankful for such a good Christian preschool to send my kids to and thankful that all my children are healthy, strong and so far really like school!!!

Last night, we all started talking about our Christmas Ski trip that we are taking with the whole family to West Virginia. We went 6-7 years ago, so it has been a while. Now we have two new brother-in-laws and lots more cousins. We started getting so excited about the trip that we pulled out all the winter stuff and started being silly. So as you can tell from the pictures, the Griners are really excited about snow!!!

Addi looking pretty Sunday morning before church.


Landon and Addi standing together with smiles.


I thought this outfit made Landon look older!


Andi posing with the kids as they enjoy seeing their new backpacks and lunch boxes for the first time.


Landon with his new digs for school!


Do you think she likes it?


I have to at least sneak in one picture of John even though he does not like for me to take his picture.


Landon the morning of his first day of preschool!! What big boy!!



Landon and Addi together on their first day!! They look little to me in this picture.


Addi all smiles on her first day of school!




This was in the parking lot of the preschool! Addi entered school like Miss Hollywood!


Landon and Addi wishing each other luck on their first day!!


I found their backpacks on line. There were all kinds to choose from, so I let the kids pick out which one they liked the best.


Being silly and ready for snow!!



Landon looked funny in this hat!


Addi did not like the scarf look!!


Andi did like the scarf look!!


Addi showing us her mittens and ski suit! So far, she is the only one who has one. I am on the lookout!


Landon really got into dressing up. He looked so funny!


OK, Andi looks a little scarey here!! Addi kept screaming when Andi would act she was chasing her!


Even Mike got in on the action!


I also got Addi to try on her new dress that G-Mama got her. It is so pretty!! It is a little big, so I might save it for her Easter dress for next year.


This has to be one of my favorites!! First of all, I do not even know how Landon's legs still fit in this car and he can drive it. He got it for Christmas from G-Mama 3 years ago! He looked hilarious driving around in this get up!!


Andi and Addi ready for the snowstorms of W.V.!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

School Year 2008 - 2009 Begins and other stuff....

The new school year has officially begun for the Griner Family. John and Andi started school full time this week, so we are somewhat in a schedule. The little ones don't start until August 26th , so we have a couple of more weeks before our schedule will drastically change. I don't start my regular weekly work until the first week of September, so I will be enjoying these last few weeks. Hopefully, getting a lot of sewing done too. If anyone ever needs a special baby gift, don't forget about Three Pine Design. We are in the works for our own website, so then it will be even easier to order and see the products we offer. We will send out a grand opening notice when our website is complete! :)

Last week, John and Andi finished up band camp, Andi got braces and I left for my
3rd annual Koppe Girl's weekend! Andi and John are both excited about the new marching band year and our first football game is the 28th. Andi is beginning phase two of the braces world. She just got them last week and so far is doing great with them. She looks so cute! I have discovered, after seeing the cost of her braces, that I chose the wrong field to go into. Orthodontics is where the money is! :) Samantha and I left for Atlanta on Friday and we had a great Girl's weekend! We ate lots of sweets and good food and went shopping! We also saw two movies Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2 and Mama Mia ---- both of which I highly suggest!! We had brunch in Atlanta at Canoe (antoher place I highly suggest), it was so delicious! It was a wonderful time hanging out and visiting! The dads and kids were all good and enjoyed their time together too!

I took some video of the kids playing last night in the playroom. They were both very wound up! Racing with cars and trucks is something they always do! Addi is wearing her special "dance" outfit, so she was in the mood for dancing! I also have a before and after braces picture of Andi and pictures from their first day of school. The videos and some pictures turned out darker than I would've liked but oh well :)

Addi and Andi were dancing together and Addi got very dizzy!

Addi Gets Dizzy! from Elizabeth griner on Vimeo.

Addi showing off some of her moves!

Addi Dances! from Elizabeth griner on Vimeo.

Addi and Landon have truck races daily around the house! They can get pretty crazy!

Addi and Landon dance with trucks from Elizabeth griner on Vimeo.

Landon watching a movie. Does that look very comfortable??


Andi's "before braces" picture!


Andi took this silly picture herself!


Landon with his racing truck.


Addi with her racing truck. They also love to crash!


The kids were admiring their back to school cake surprise when they got home. Yummy!



Andi "after braces" picture! Doesn't she look cute?!?


Andi and Addi were having lots of fun dancing together!




Addi's action shot!


Giving me a little pose in her dancing outfit! So funny!

Monday, August 4, 2008

From Toddler Beds to Big Kid Beds!!!

Well, I no longer officially have any babies. :( It is kind of sad to think about that, but also exciting to know that they are growing up healthy and strong. Yesterday, I took down my last baby bed and toddler bed and put in twin beds for Landon and Addi. They were both so excited about their new big kid beds and slept like "babies" in them last night. I got a little teary-eyed (ok, I cried), when I was taking down their baby stuff, but I am so pleased that they like their new beds. I was also pleased that they did not seem to take up too much space in their little room. I was afraid with two twin beds it would be really cramped, but I think it will work out just fine. I took some pictures of them the last night they slept in their toddler / baby beds and then some in their new beds!
This week is not as busy as last week, so I am thankful for that!! I hope everyone else is having a good week!
Landon being a goof ball while getting ready to put on his pjs.

Addi enjoyed her toddler bed and being able to get in and out by herself. I must brag on Landon and Addi because not ONE TIME have they every gotten out of their beds without permission! Kind of amazing!


This picture is a little flashback to when I babysat Kaori last week. She was an angel and then slept the entire afternoon. I had to wake her up to take her to her mama!


Addi in a silly mood before her last night in her toddler bed.


Landon taking forever to get undressed. He is a nut!!

Landon wanting me to take pictures of him being silly! He and Addi are both really into making funny faces!



Addi giving me a pretty smile!

Another silly smile from Landon, and silly pose!


Landon and Addi's new big kid beds! I plan on making them each a throw to go on the ends out of their fabric of choice. Of course, Landon's has trucks on it!!


Daddy enjoying some time in Landon's new bed with some company!

Now trying out Addi's bed!

Landon trying out his bed for himself. He and Addi look so little in these beds compared to their other ones!! How quickly they grow up!!!